Monthly District Newsletter
February 2026
Multilingual Language ACCESS Testing
This is a very exciting time of year for our multilingual students at Proviso! This is the moment when we stop to measure and celebrate the growth that our students are making with their language proficiency in English and the other languages that they know, such as Spanish or French. It is an amazing time to be bilingual, and we want you to be informed about all that we have planned for the upcoming weeks!
The ACCESS testing is Coming Soon! February 17 – 20
ACCESS is a very important assessment taken by over 2.8 million students in English Learner programs in 42 states across the country every February. The test measures academic English language proficiency in four areas – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Students earn a score of 1-6 in each area. They also receive an overall composite score between 1-6, which gives us a snapshot of their current levels of academic English. Teachers and leaders in our schools use this data to help them make decisions about instruction and course placement for students. We also use these test scores to monitor the progress made toward English proficiency in our district. This test is mandatory for all students who qualify for multilingual services in our district. Once a student earns an overall score of 4.8, they are considered “English proficient” and no longer need to take the ACCESS test.
Testing will take place on the follow dates and times:
Proviso East High School
- 509 students taking ACCESS
- Listening & Reading: February 17 (AM) | 1st–3rd Period | 8:00–10:40 a.m.
- Speaking & Writing: February 19 (PM) | 6th–8th Period | 12:35–3:15 p.m.
Proviso West High School
- 562 students taking ACCESS
- Listening & Reading: February 17 (PM) | 1st–3rd Period | 8:00–10:40 a.m.
- Speaking & Writing: February 19 (AM) | 6th–8th Period | 12:35–3:15 p.m.
Proviso Math and Science Academy (PMSA)
- 75 students taking ACCESS
- Listening & Reading: February 18 (PM) | 6th–8th Period | 12:35–3:15 p.m.
- Speaking & Writing: February 20 (AM) | 1st–3rd Period | 8:00–10:40 a.m.
Please try to avoid scheduling doctor appointments or missing school on these days, as much as possible, so that students can test on their intended days and not have to do make-up testing, which needs to be completed before March 4.
Parents can help at home by ensuring that students are rested, well-fed, and charged their computers for testing. REMINDER: The school provides free breakfast every morning.
How do I find my student’s ACCESS scores?
If students have already taken ACCESS in previous years, our multilingual department will have their scores on file. In the Fall, we mailed home a packet to our multilingual families that included a copy of their Individual Student Report from the ACCESS test they took last February. If students are new to the country, state, or public school system in Illinois, this may be their first time taking the test, so you will receive your report next fall.
Students: Look Out For Our Email With Your Previous Test Scores
Every student will be receiving an email from our multilingual department that will remind them what their ACCESS scores from last year were. We hope this motivates and encourages them to do their best work on the test this year, so that it accurately reflects what they can do in English.
Take the 5Essentials Parent Survey!
Parents and guardians, we need your input! The 5Essentials Parent Survey is now open, and it’s your chance to share feedback about your child’s school experience. The survey focuses on important areas that research shows impact student success, including school climate, communication, family engagement, and student support.
Why participate? Your responses help the district:
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Understand family perspectives and needs
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Improve school communication and engagement
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Strengthen school climate and support for students
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Make informed decisions that benefit every student
The survey is quick — it takes about 5 minutes — and your answers are confidential. The more families who participate, the better we can understand our community and make meaningful improvements.
Survey closes March 13, 2026
Parent-Teacher Conferences Scheduled for March 12, 2026
Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs) are scheduled to take place on March 12, 2026. This is an important opportunity for families and teachers to connect, discuss student progress, and partner to support student success.
Parents will be able to begin scheduling conference appointments two weeks prior to the conference date. The TES Parent-Teacher Conference online portal will open on February 26, 2026, allowing parents to sign up for both online and in-person conference sessions.
The final deadline for parents to schedule a conference appointment is March 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM. After this time, the scheduling system will close in preparation for the conference day.
All Parent-Teacher Conference appointments must be scheduled using the TES platform, regardless of whether the meeting will be held virtually or in person. Parents are encouraged to log in early to ensure they can secure their preferred time slots.
If parents need to make updates or changes to their PowerSchool account, including login credentials or contact information, they should contact the main office at their child’s school for assistance.
We encourage all families to participate and take advantage of this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about student learning and growth.
Winter Renaissance STAR Testing
Our students have officially completed the Winter Renaissance STAR assessments! These assessments act as a national benchmark, allowing us to see how your child’s performance in Reading and Math compares to students in the same grade across the country. This provides a clear, objective snapshot of proficiency and helps our teachers tailor their classroom instruction to support growth in these two key areas for the remainder of the school year. We want to thank our students for their hard work and focus during this mid-year window.
Detailed progress reports will be shared with families soon. Once the results are received, we encourage you to review them with your student and connect with their teachers to discuss any goals or questions. These results are a powerful tool for us to work together to celebrate achievements and support your child’s success through the rest of the year.
Dual Degree Update
Proviso Township High School District 209 continues to expand college-ready opportunities for our students. Last school year on January 14, 2025, the Board of Education approved 21 seats for the District’s highly regarded Dual Degree Program, ensuring equitable representation across all three Proviso campuses.
The Dual Degree Program is a competitive and selective opportunity that allows eligible students to earn both their high school diploma and an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from Triton College—all during their junior and senior years of high school. This means students can graduate from Proviso with college credit already completed, saving time and money while gaining a strong academic advantage.
Interest in the program was exceptionally high, with applications exceeding the number of available seats. Students selected for the program successfully met all established admission criteria, including:
Placement into college-level coursework based on Triton College Accuplacer exam results
A minimum 2.5 GPA
Strong attendance and positive behavior records
Being on track for high school graduation
Application Status Update
The application review process is currently underway, with the following updates by campus:
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Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy (PMSA): Seven students have received acceptance letters, four students have been placed on a waitlist, and students who were not selected have been notified.
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Proviso West High School: Interview dates are being coordinated for selected students and are expected to take place next week.
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Proviso East High School: Applications are currently under review.
The District remains diligent in finalizing the full Dual Degree cohort and anticipates completing the selection process by February 16, 2026.
Students interested in future Dual Degree opportunities are encouraged to begin preparing and apply during their sophomore year.
For questions regarding the current application cycle or future Dual Degree opportunities, please contact Ms. Toni Johnson, Coordinator of Dual Degree, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement, at tjohnson@pths209.org.
Seal of Biliteracy
We will also be giving our students the opportunity to show us what they can do in their other languages, like Spanish and French, through our Seal of Biliteracy initiative. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by schools to high school graduates who have demonstrated high proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking in English and at least one other world language. The proficiency of English is measured by the ACT, while the other world language is measured by the STAMP 4S Test. The STAMP 4S Test measures Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking in Spanish and other languages. The Seal provides high school and college credit and makes your child more marketable in the global workforce.
We will be offering two opportunities for students to take the Avant STAMP-4S test in the third and fourth quarter, so that students can become eligible to earn their Seal of Biliteracy. We encourage all students who are interested, especially those who are close to meeting the eligibility requirements for the Seal or Commendation to take this test. You can learn more about it by watching our informational videos in Spanish or English.
Summer School 2026 Update
Proviso Township High Schools will once again offer Summer School programming designed to support student success and on‑time graduation. For Summer 2026, current freshmen (rising sophomores) will have the opportunity to participate in in‑person live instruction, focused on building foundational skills and supporting academic growth. Students who earned an “F” are highly encouraged to sign up to recover their credit. Students in grades 10–12 will utilize an online credit recovery program, allowing them to make up required credits in a flexible format while staying on track toward graduation.
Families should be on the lookout for summer school registration information, which will be completed through PowerSchool later this spring. There will be an associated cost for summer school participation, with additional details to be shared prior to the registration window opening. We encourage families to review upcoming communications carefully, as summer programming plays an important role in supporting academic progress and ensuring students are well prepared for the 2026–2027 school year.
Important Transportation Reminders
Please note that all Wednesday bus pick-up times occur one hour later than the regular scheduled routes. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding your student's commute, we encourage families to utilize the following resources:
For real-time status on a bus location or schedule, please contact First Student Dispatch directly:
Proviso East, PMSA & Field Trips: (708) 345-5502 (Select Option 1)
Proviso West: (630) 530-9366 (Select Option 1)
Unresolved Concerns
If you have a transportation issue that has not been resolved by the dispatch team, please reach out to the District 209 Transportation Department at (708) 575-9562.
Download the FirstView Bus App to access real-time bus tracking and instant updates right from your smartphone!
Let’s Talk: Connect, Ask, Share!
We want to remind our families that Let’s Talk remains our primary bridge for open communication. If you haven’t used it lately, it is the quickest way to ask questions, share your feedback, and receive timely answers directly from school and district leadership.
We’ve seen great engagement so far, and we want to ensure every parent and student knows their voice is always heard!
How to connect: Visit the District’s main webpage and click the “Contact Us” link or the Let’s Talk button to submit your thoughts.
Need Wi-Fi? Hotspots Available for Students
District 209’s IT Department has Wi-Fi hotspots available for students who need internet access at home. A hotspot is a portable device that provides a secure internet connection, allowing students to complete schoolwork, attend virtual classes, and stay connected online from anywhere.
To request a hotspot, please contact your school principal. Once your request is submitted and approved, a hotspot will be issued. For any questions, you can reach IT Director Michael Swanson at mswanson@pths209.org.
Department Chair Leadership Retreat
On January 27, Department Chairs from PMSA, Proviso East, and Proviso West joined Superintendent Mohip and district leaders for a professional retreat focused on enhancing student learning. Guided by the Proviso Instructional Framework, leaders engaged in data-driven discussions and analyzed student work to better understand what academic success looks like from a student's perspective. By building stronger collaboration and trust across all three campuses, our instructional leaders are ensuring that teaching and learning continue to improve for every student in the district.
Upcoming Meeting for Parents – BPAC on February 9
We will be hosting a Bilingual Parent Advisory Council Meeting on Monday, February 9, from 5:30-7:00PM in the Proviso Math and Science Academy Cafeteria (8601 Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park) to share important information about the ACCESS test and how you can support your students at home. If you want more information, please contact Mr. Kallieris, District Director of Multilingual Learners at dkallieris@pths209.org.
You can attend this meeting virtually or in-person at PMSA.
https://www.youtube.com/@pthsd209/streams
Please join us!
Próxima Reunión para Padres – BPAC el 9 de febrero
Organizaremos una reunión del Consejo Asesor de Padres Bilingües el lunes 9 de febrero, de 5:30 a 7:00 PM, en la cafetería de Proviso Math and Science Academy (8601 Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park) para compartir información importante sobre el examen ACCESS y cómo puede apoyar a sus estudiantes en casa. Para más información, comuníquese con el Sr. Kallieris, Director del Distrito para Aprendices Multilingües, en dkallieris@pths209.org.
Puede asistir a esta reunión de manera virtual o presencial en PMSA.
https://www.youtube.com/@pthsd209/streams
¡Esperamos que nos acompañe!
